He had no particular agenda. Goto's purpose in visiting South Korea was to see for himself the capabilities of the nation's top Hunters. He had simply grown curious after spotting one among them who stood out as somewhat unusual.
'Shouldn't take long to figure out if he's really magic-type or not.'
Goto still couldn't believe that the man before him wasn't a combat-type Hunter. Data. For the upcoming subjugation operation—if for nothing else, he needed information on Sung Jin-Woo to eliminate any potential variables.
'Half of this is just for fun, though...'
Goto cracked a grin. The interpreter who had been listening to what Goto said flinched in shock and spoke up.
"Mr. G-Goto, are you serious?" "Please relay my words to him exactly as I said them." "No, but still..." "Is there a problem?"
Goto asked with an air of nonchalance, his tone suggesting he saw no reason why he shouldn't get to spar when all the Korean Hunters were already warming up. The interpreter broke into a sweat before reluctantly answering.
"Ah... very well."
The interpreter turned and caught Jin-Woo's eye. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke.
"Mr. Goto is... asking if you'd like to have a practice bout."
There was no need to elaborate on what kind of practice was being proposed. Jin-Woo's gaze shifted to Goto. Goto wore an enigmatic smile as he waited for an answer.
'He wants to test my abilities?'
There was no way a celebrity of Goto Ryūji's stature would go out of his way to do something this conspicuous just to show off his own strength. If that were his objective, he would have targeted Choi Jong-In or Baek Yoon-Ho, who led the first- and second-ranked guilds in the country instead.
'I don't know what he's after, but...'
The overly direct glances he'd been casting from the start—it seemed Goto's interest was aimed squarely at Jin-Woo. And yet, Jin-Woo found himself oddly receptive to Goto's proposal. He wanted to test the power he'd cultivated in the Demon Castle, and he was curious about the skills of the man considered Japan's strongest. It wasn't just Goto who wanted to know what the other was capable of.
'...Hm?'
A subtle crease formed on Goto's smiling face.
'He's smiling?'
Contrary to his expectation that the man would act flustered and try to back out, Sung Jin-Woo's face showed composure. Did he have something he was counting on? Or was this situation so absurd that he was letting out a wry laugh? The answer came quickly. Jin-Woo said something to the interpreter, and the interpreter practically leaped into the air. The interpreter looked like he was trying to dissuade Jin-Woo, while Jin-Woo smiled and attempted to calm him down. It was all in Korean, so Goto couldn't understand a word, and his brow furrowed.
'What are they saying...'
Yes or no. For a question that should have such a simple answer, why was the third-party interpreter sweating like that? Goto's patience was just about to run out when the interpreter, glancing cautiously at Jin-Woo, spoke.
"Um... Mr. Goto."
If it weren't for the audience watching, Goto would have urged him to stop beating around the bush and just spit it out. He forced his eyebrows to stay put, maintaining his smile, and waited for the interpreter's next words.
"Hunter Sung Jin-Woo has agreed. However..." "However?" "He has a condition." 'A condition?'
The man who was expected to back down had not only accepted the proposal but was laying down conditions as well. This time, even Goto couldn't hide his surprise.
"What condition?" "Hunter Sung Jin-Woo says..."
The interpreter glanced at Jin-Woo once more, and Jin-Woo gave a nod.
"If Mr. Goto intends to go all out, he'll agree."
Goto's gaze snapped back to Jin-Woo.
'Is he serious?'
Judging from Jin-Woo's expression, he wasn't joking. Goto tilted his head.
'Could it be... he doesn't know who I am?'
No, even if he hadn't known before, the interpreter must have just explained it to him. And yet he still hadn't backed down. Was this arrogance, or delusion?
'...This could be interesting.'
By now, the smile had vanished from Goto's face. He had planned to match levels casually, size up the man's abilities, and call it a day. But his mind had changed. Fortunately, there was an S-rank healer nearby, so nothing too serious should happen.
"I accept." "What?!"
The interpreter's face turned pale. Hunter Sung Jin-Woo had just become an S-rank and couldn't contain his youthful vigor—that was one thing. But why was Mr. Goto, a seasoned veteran, going along with this? The atmosphere was already past the point of turning back.
"Hey, who's that guy in front of the Japanese Hunter?" "That's... Hunter Sung Jin-Woo." "What, are they about to duel?"
The S-rank Hunters and Hunter Association officials who remained in the gymnasium crowded around the two men facing off. While they watched the situation unfold with a mix of worry and excitement, Cha Hae-In also went and stood beside the other Hunters.
'Will he be all right...?'
The opponent was the top man in Japan, which boasted over twenty S-rank Hunters. And Hunter Sung Jin-Woo was a rookie who had only been S-rank for a few days, not counting his time as an E-rank. Normally, she should have stepped in to stop Hunter Sung Jin-Woo. From the perspective of the Hunters Guild she belonged to, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo was the benefactor who had saved the lives of the entire elite strike team. Cha Hae-In was not the kind of woman who would stand by and watch a benefactor get hurt when the outcome was as plain as day. But. Every time she moved to intervene, the memory of that day resurfaced. The look Jin-Woo had given her when they faced over a hundred High Orcs and the boss of the A-rank Dungeon—don't get in my way. Every time she recalled the fierce gaze he'd shown her back then, her heart raced and a strange sense of anticipation surged. That was why she couldn't move forward, only biting her lower lip lightly. Just then.
"Are you all right being near the Hunters today?"
Baek Yoon-Ho, who had appeared beside her, asked. Having joined forces with her in several raids in the past, he knew about Cha Hae-In's condition.
"I can't exactly keep my nose plugged on Jeju Island."
At her reply, Baek Yoon-Ho nodded. This time, Cha Hae-In asked.
"You said you were acquainted with Hunter Sung Jin-Woo, sir?" "Yes."
Cha Hae-In recalled that the Baek Horn Guild, just like the Hunters Guild, had also received help from Hunter Sung Jin-Woo.
"Then shouldn't you be stopping him?" "That would be the normal response."
The opponent was that 'Goto,' after all. Cha Hae-In tilted her head.
"Then why...?"
Baek Yoon-Ho turned to meet her gaze and answered.
"For the same reason as you, Hunter Cha."
She flinched. Cha Hae-In was startled, feeling as though her inner thoughts had been seen through. A slight change appeared on her normally calm expression.
"What do you mean—" "Doesn't a strange sense of anticipation just well up?"
She couldn't deny it. Even now, her heart was racing with the thought, 'If it's Hunter Sung Jin-Woo, maybe...'
"I feel the same way."
With that easy smile, Baek Yoon-Ho turned his head back toward Jin-Woo and Goto. His gaze was filled with anticipation.
'If Hunter Sung is the kind of Awakened One who can grow the way I predict...'
The moment to finally confirm it had arrived. Goto was the first to raise his fist. The nearby interpreter scrambled out of the way. Two S-rank Hunters clashing, and one of them was the man hailed as Japan's strongest. An ordinary person caught in the middle could lose their life. Jin-Woo, who had watched the interpreter retreat to a safe distance, then raised his own hand. No—he was about to. Just then. Whoosh! Without the slightest delay, Goto's fist shot forward, cleaving through the air where Jin-Woo's head had been a moment ago. Goto's eyes widened.
'Dodged it?'
The blow he'd launched to knock Jin-Woo out in one hit and restore his bruised pride had missed entirely. Jin-Woo had tilted his head to the side, letting the fist sail past, then lightly creating distance. His reaction speed was astonishing.
'And he's supposed to be a magic-type?'
What a joke. His instincts had been right all along. He didn't know why the Korean Hunter's Association was concealing this man's abilities, but the man was clearly combat-type—and an assassin type at that. Nimble movements, silent footsteps.
'Others might be fooled, but not my eyes.'
Goto's lips curled upward on one side. He'd strip the mask away. Right down to the last card he's holding. For the first time in a while, Goto felt his interest ignite. Having put some distance between himself and Goto, Jin-Woo stood still and listened to his own heartbeat. Thump. Thump. Thump. His heart was pounding. From Goto he could feel a strength that was on a completely different level from other S-rank Hunters. But. Every time Goto's extraordinary aura washed over his skin, the emotion surging within him was not fear—but powerful confidence.
'That man is Japan's strongest...'
He finally realized just how much he had changed by leveling up to 97. The powerful confidence was clearly reflected in his expression. Conversely, Goto's face hardened.
'He's smiling again?'
How dare you, in front of me? Goto exhaled sharply. The tremendous magic power he released pressed down heavily on the air inside. The watching Hunters jumped in alarm.
'Shouldn't someone stop this?' 'Goto Ryūji—he really intends to go through with it?'
Jin-Woo, on the other hand, smiled faintly. This was exactly what he wanted. Goto felt something surge up inside him when he noticed that Jin-Woo showed no sign of being intimidated despite his magic power being unleashed. Goto's eyes blazed with killing intent! Before any other Hunter could intervene, Goto charged forward like a furious beast. The distance closed in an instant, Goto's fingertips shot out—but Jin-Woo twisted his body at the last possible second, dodging the strike.
'...!'
Goto's pupils trembled. He dodged that too? Was this a coincidence, or...? Even as his mind raced with questions, his hands didn't stop, unleashing a barrage of attacks without restraint. But not a single one landed cleanly—they were all narrowly dodged or deflected.
'How is this possible...?'
Cold sweat began to bead on Goto's forehead. Goto attacking with dazzling speed, Jin-Woo barely dodging by the skin of his teeth. The Hunters watching exclaimed in admiration.
"Frightening attacks." "I can barely follow his movements with my eyes." "Hunter Sung Jin-Woo is holding his own, though." "Being able to dodge like that against Japan's strongest—how is that not impressive?"
Cha Hae-In shook her head inwardly, again and again.
'Hunter Sung Jin-Woo is not just holding on.'
To the others' eyes, Jin-Woo appeared to be helplessly dragged along under Goto's relentless assault with no room to retaliate. But the reality was the opposite. Cha Hae-In swallowed hard, her eyes wide with shock.
'He's baiting Goto into continuing his attacks one after another!'
If her eyes weren't deceiving her... Hunter Sung Jin-Woo was matching levels and reading his opponent's capabilities. That was only possible when your skill far surpassed your opponent's.
'Impossible...'
And that impossible thing was happening right before her eyes. Perhaps the reason they needed to stop the fight wasn't because Hunter Sung Jin-Woo was in danger, but for the opposite reason... Just as that thought crossed Cha Hae-In's mind, she noticed Baek Yoon-Ho trembling beside her.
"Mr. Baek...?"
She called in a small voice, but Baek Yoon-Ho didn't answer. His gaze was fixed solely on Jin-Woo. Cha Hae-In studied Baek Yoon-Ho's complexion and froze in surprise.
'Mr. Baek's eyes...'
Baek Yoon-Ho's eyes were glowing yellow, like those of a beast. His vertically slit pupils trembled with shock. Cha Hae-In looked at him with concern, but Baek Yoon-Ho was completely unaware that she was watching him. He was seeing clearly with the 'Beast's Eyes.'
'I... I was right.'
Jin-Woo's power had grown beyond compare to the last time Baek had seen him in front of the Association.
'A growing Hunter...!'
His entire body shuddered with tremors. Just then.
"Ah."
Baek Yoon-Ho, who had been staring at Jin-Woo, let out an involuntary gasp. Cha Hae-In, standing next to him, also felt a chilling aura and quickly turned her head.
"Ah!"
Just a few seconds ago, no one knew better than Goto himself that he was being dragged into Jin-Woo's pace. Goto, who had always been called the 'strongest,' felt his pride being shoved headfirst into the sewer.
'Daring to do this to me...?'
When the strike that had aimed precisely for an opening was also narrowly deflected by Jin-Woo, Goto's furious eyes filled with a thick, viscous killing intent.
'I'll kill him!'
Jin-Woo's eyes widened. He could feel Goto's murderous intent pricking his skin.
'Killing intent?'
His heart lurched. When someone harbored killing intent toward him, the System would display a message and then assign an emergency quest. If a quest to kill Goto popped up right now...? Ding! Right on cue, a mechanical chime rang out, and Jin-Woo raised his head.
[Warning! A hostile individual is nearby!]
Fortunately, only a warning message appeared. Unlike the incidents with Hwang Dong-Suk or Kang Tae-Sik, no emergency quest was triggered. However. Whoosh—! Goto's fingertips shot toward Jin-Woo's eye, piercing through the air with lethal precision. Had Jin-Woo not reacted with his reflexes pushed to the absolute limit and turned his head, he would have lost an eye. It was a blatant attack imbued with clear killing intent, aimed precisely at a vital spot. This should never happen during a practice bout. Crunch. In that instant, the air shifted.
"Ah."
Baek Yoon-Ho, who had been staring at Jin-Woo, let out an involuntary gasp. Goto was the first to sense the change in the air. His body understood it, but his mind could not. A bone-chilling coldness raised the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck stood on end. It was a sensation he had never experienced before.
'What the hell is this...?'
Before his brain could even process what was happening, his wrist was seized by Jin-Woo. He tried to use force, but he couldn't pull free.
'What kind of strength...'
His gaze, which had been on his captured wrist, shifted up to Jin-Woo's face. Eyes as cold as ice. But what drew his attention even more than Jin-Woo's gaze was Jin-Woo's swollen right shoulder and forearm. His arm, cocked back with tremendous force, and the fist at its end—were aimed directly at his face. The heavy, oppressive air pressing down on his shoulders. His breath suddenly caught. Why? In that instant, the word 'death' flashed through Goto's mind. Just then.
"Stop!"
Baek Yoon-Ho and Cha Hae-In, acting on pure instinct, rushed out and grabbed Jin-Woo's right arm. Baek Yoon-Ho clung almost entirely to his shoulder, while Cha Hae-In seized his wrist with both hands, using every ounce of her strength. When Jin-Woo turned to look at them, Baek Yoon-Ho shook his head. Cha Hae-In's face also looked frightened, her eyes tense with alarm.
'...'
Thanks to the two of them throwing themselves in without holding back, Jin-Woo was finally able to bring his agitation under control.
"Phew."
Jin-Woo let out a short breath and released Goto's wrist. Goto rubbed his freed wrist and took several steps back. The interpreter hurried over to Goto's side. Baek Yoon-Ho said to the interpreter.
"I think things are getting a bit too heated. Let's call the practice bout here. Please tell the Japanese Hunter."
The interpreter nodded. When he relayed Baek Yoon-Ho's message in Japanese, Goto glared at Jin-Woo, then turned on his heel without so much as a farewell and strode out of the gymnasium.
"Mr. G-Go—Goto!"
The interpreter's voice was pitiful as he hurried after Goto. Baek Yoon-Ho let out a sigh of relief and bowed his head to Jin-Woo.
"I'm sorry for the interruption." "..." "That man is the one who will be leading the Japanese team in a few days. I couldn't just stand by and watch knowing something could go wrong."
Baek Yoon-Ho watched Jin-Woo's expression carefully as he asked tentatively.
"Did I do something unnecessary?" 'No."
Jin-Woo admitted it readily. Baek Yoon-Ho was right. If something happened to Goto and it disrupted the plan, the damage to both countries would be immeasurable. He had no intention of faulting Baek Yoon-Ho or Cha Hae-In for rushing in at the right moment. Whoa—as the situation settled, the people who had been watching the Goto-Jin-Woo showdown with fascination approached Jin-Woo. The look in their eyes had changed. Among them, the first to arrive was Ma Dong-Wook, the master of the Glory Guild and a man of enormous stature.
"Ha ha!"
Ma Dong-Wook approached with a grin.
"To think you'd end up with nothing but a small scratch on your cheek against the great Goto himself—you're no ordinary man!"
Unfortunately, aside from Cha Hae-In and Baek Yoon-Ho, no one else had fully grasped what had just transpired.
"Wow! Your body is solid! Fine physique!"
Ma Dong-Wook touched Jin-Woo's shoulder and arm, impressed.
"Our guild is full of magic-types, so we're seriously lacking in combat-types. Master Sung—if you haven't decided on a guild yet, how about coming over to us?" "Excuse me, Master Ma."
Choi Jong-In, who had been standing a step back quietly observing the situation, stepped forward.
"Hmm?"
Ma Dong-Wook turned his head, and Choi Jong-In said, as if he'd been waiting for this.
"Hunter Sung Jin-Woo is a magic-type."
An earthquake struck Ma Dong-Wook's pupils.
"What?!"
Meanwhile. Having left the gymnasium, Goto quickly put distance between himself and the interpreter, then checked his wrist.
'...'
The wrist was covered in deep blue-black bruising. Despite the weather not being warm, beads of cold sweat lined his forehead. He pulled out his phone and dialed a familiar number. After several rings, the sound of the receiver being lifted came through. Click.
—This is Matsumoto. "Association Chairman." —Goto? Why does your voice sound like that?
Goto struggled to steady his trembling voice as he spoke.
"There's... there's an incredible Hunter in Korea." —Stronger than you? "It's possible he might be." —... "I think we may need to change our plans slightly."
After a long silence, Matsumoto rummaged through something and spoke again.
—What's the Hunter's name? "Sung Jin-Woo. A re-Awakened Hunter who recently reached S-rank." —That's strange. I don't see that name. "Excuse me?"
A name that didn't exist? So was the Hunter he'd just met a ghost or something? He did feel like he'd been possessed by one. But hadn't he checked the Association's website himself and confirmed the man was a magic-type?
"What do you mean? Sung Jin-Woo isn't on the list?" —The truth is, Korea just sent over the final roster. "Sung Jin-Woo isn't on it?"
That couldn't be right. Chairman Ko Geon-Hee couldn't possibly be so foolish as to leave out such a powerful Hunter when assembling the raid party. On the other end of the line, Matsumoto continued in a calm voice.
—Choi Jong-In, Ma Dong-Wook, Baek Yoon-Ho, Cha Hae-In, Im Tae-Gyu, Min Byeong-Gu.
As if to emphasize that no changes to the plan were needed, Matsumoto spoke with a confident tone.
—These six individuals constitute the full strength of the Korean team departing four days from now.
***
Baek Yoon-Ho took a deep breath. Even after the two men who had turned the gymnasium upside down had left, his heartbeat refused to settle.
'Was that really possible?'
Having only theorized about it in his mind, witnessing it in reality left Baek Yoon-Ho unable to contain his shock.
'A truly growing Awakened One...'
How much was he worth? Baek Yoon-Ho couldn't even begin to guess. That was why he had only watched from afar as Choi Jong-In, Ma Dong-Wook, and Im Tae-Gyu made their efforts to recruit Jin-Woo. He could still remember Choi Jong-In's look of confusion as he watched Baek Yoon-Ho sitting idle.
'I wouldn't join another guild either, if I were him.'
Right. Trying to recruit Hunter Sung Jin-Woo was a fool's errand. But there were plenty of ways to maintain a relationship with an exceptional Hunter beyond recruitment. It was time to activate Plan B. Just then. Bzzz—his phone buzzed once. Since the vibration didn't continue, it had to be a text message. Baek Yoon-Ho pulled the phone from his pocket without much thought. It was a message from the Association. The public release of the final roster for the gold ant subjugation in four days. Baek Yoon-Ho's eyes scanned quickly past the long list of Japanese Hunters to the Korean Hunters. His eyes widened. He shot up from the bench.
"Hunter Sung Jin-Woo isn't on here!"